New governance and the case of activation policies: comparing experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands

Colin Lindsay, Ronald McQuaid

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article explores the importance of new forms of governance in active labour market policies (activation) in two countries: Denmark and the Netherlands. Drawing on research with key stakeholders in these countries, we analyse how new governance, and particularly processes of contracting-out and localization, have found expression in recent reforms to activation. We conclude that localization and contracting-out may have a future role to play in the development of more locally responsive and individually focused services. But both countries have encountered problems in promoting joined-up services through local jobcentres, while contracting-out has not always led to the tailored, individually focused services envisaged by policy-makers. In both countries, there are also concerns that the restriction of the Public Employment Service to a ‘gatekeeping and signposting’ role will lead to inconsistencies in the quality of services, exposing the most disadvantaged to greater social risk.
LanguageEnglish
Pages445-463
Number of pages19
JournalSocial Policy and Administration
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2009

Fingerprint

Denmark
activation
Netherlands
governance
experience
employment service
labor market
stakeholder
reform
policy
services

Keywords

  • employability
  • Netherlands
  • unemployment
  • public employment service
  • de-monopolization
  • Denmark

Cite this

Lindsay, Colin ; McQuaid, Ronald. / New governance and the case of activation policies : comparing experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands. In: Social Policy and Administration. 2009 ; Vol. 43, No. 5. pp. 445-463.
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Lindsay, C & McQuaid, R 2009, 'New governance and the case of activation policies: comparing experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands' Social Policy and Administration, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 445-463. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9515.2009.00673.x

New governance and the case of activation policies : comparing experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands. / Lindsay, Colin; McQuaid, Ronald.

In: Social Policy and Administration, Vol. 43, No. 5, 10.2009, p. 445-463.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Lindsay C, McQuaid R. New governance and the case of activation policies: comparing experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands. Social Policy and Administration. 2009 Oct;43(5):445-463. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9515.2009.00673.x

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